002 - FIGHT NOW, SURVIVE LATER

♡♡ HYLARA ♡♡

I turned to see Creed Horton already storming forward, his dark eyes focused on Declan like a predator closing in on its prey.

Before I could blink, Creed lunged forward, his fist colliding with Declan's jaw with a sickening crunch. The force made him stumble several steps backward before crashing hard on the ice, his helmet spinning away.

But Creed didn't stop.

Dragging Declan up by the front of his jersey, the fabric bunched in his fists as he pummeled his face, each punch fueled by a rage I'd never seen.

Declan managed to throw one wild swing which Creed effortlessly caught before twisting his wrist making Declan cry out in agony. With a vicious hook, Declan glided across the ice just as their teammates and referees got over their shock.

I was frozen in horror as the crowd went wild, my heart hammering hard against my chest.

No wonder Creed Horton never loses control—he was a beast when he did.

"Hylara Hart." I jumped at the voice barking my name.

Mandy Quinn, my boss's secretary stormed over, glaring as if I'd killed her pregnant cat.

"Was humiliating yourself not enough that you had to drag Horton into your mess?"

My mouth parted but nothing came out. Instead, I looked between her twisted face and the rink. Declan fought hard against the players restraining him while Creed stormed into the tunnel accompanied by the coach and referees.

How was it my doing?

"I..., I didn't—"

"Save it." She sneered bitterly. "Do you have the slightest idea what you've done? The entire arena watched your little scandal unfold."

My stomach twisted.

"I didn't release those photos." My voice barely reached my own ears.

"Of course you didn't." She rolled her eyes sarcastically.

"Mandy, I'm telling you, I know nothi—"

"Enough." Mr Fontana walked in, shoving his cell phone into his jacket, his tie was crooked like he'd been tugging on it.

"Mr Fontana..."

"Miss Hart," He sighed, his exhausted brown eyes finding mine. "I believed you were ready for this position."

His words chipped another piece of my heart.

"Clearly, I was mistaken." He looked disappointed which hurt more than Declan's rejection.

"Mr. Fontana, please let me explain."

"Explain what? How you brought the biggest University's Ice Hockey team into the middle of a scandal? Reporters have gone wild, sponsors are calling. My phone won't stop ringing."

"I-, I didn't plan for these to happen." I shook my head, looking desperately at the disapproving looks of the other officials in the press box.

"Intentions don't always matter, Miss Hart. The team surviving this does. Gather your things, you're suspended effective immediately."

No! I stumbled backwards.

How was I to keep up with tuition?

My eyes prickled with unshed tears, my lungs felt squeezed as I bit down hard on my trembling lips until the foul taste of iron trickled down my throat. But it didn't matter.

A sob had already escaped.

I bolted through the glass door of the press box, with a shaky hand clamped over my mouth not caring about being seen.

The pang in my chest throughout the weekend and the constant vibrations that kept my phone lighting up every minute from social media notifications were the painful reminders that I wasn't trapped in a nightmare.

I was trending online for all the wrong reasons.

Maybe it would've hurt less if Declan had chosen a random Cassandra instead of my best friend.

Cassandra never liked Declan. She believed he was hiding something big and shouldn't be trusted.

I guess she was the rotten skeleton.

How come I didn't notice when things changed between them? Cassie was clearly into Creed Horton—the arrogant hockey captain who thought no girl was worthy of him. I remember her glowing after spending a night writhing under him and she didn't even mind being kicked out by him the morning after.

Creed Horton was the last person I ever imagined would come to my defense against my boyfriend, but it seems life had a steady supply of surprises to deliver.

I was almost certain Creed had set up that jumbotron thing as his payback for humiliating him three weeks ago. So why did he defend me? Did he regret it?

Letting out a long-defeated sigh, I reached for my still vibrating phone on the nightstand, my thumb moving to delete the messages when an email stopped me cold.

The school council.

A disciplinary hearing on Monday.

Were they also planning to kick me out of school?

Monday came faster than I'd wanted, the polished mahogany table stretched out before me, my fingers forming ugly creases on my floral midi dress.

The Dean—Professor Miller kept glancing expectantly at the oak double doors of the disciplinary chamber with irritation. In the awkward silence, I distracted myself with the giant painting of a wolf with thick black fur howling to the moon. I flinched as the animal's glowy eyes bore into mine.

The door opening again snags everyone's attention as Creed Horton saunters in. His black shirt fits like it had been tailored for his athletic frame— the top two buttons were open, exposing the hard ridges of his tanned chest.

Women didn't mind falling over themselves at his presence. Rumors even had it he'd left more hearts tangled in his sheets than every guy on campus combined, and once the night was over, so was the girl. No second chances. No repeat of performances.

Creed scanned the room with cold detached eyes before settling beside me as if he was at the right place.

Why was he here?

"The incident at the arena created... complications." Lost in my head, I didn't realize the old professor had already started. "The fight is everywhere. Sport blogs, local news, you name it and humans are asking questions."

Professor Miller's eyes settled on Creed, whose wood scent was impossible to ignore. "Creed holds a sensitive position within the university."

"That's why the narrative must be corrected." Another Professor threw in.

"What narrative?" I croaked, looking between them.

"The reason behind Creed's outburst is inconsistent so we'll be cleaning that up."

Of course, this was another means to polish the golden boy's image. I reclined into the seat trying not to scowl at the ginger-haired professor.

Creed's expression tightened, his lips pressed into a thin line as if the man's next words would leave a bitter taste.

"Effective immediately, you and Mr. Horton will go public as a couple." Professor Miller stated.

My fingers twisted in my lap as I stole one horrified glance at the captain. "I'm sorry but I don't think that's very appropriate, Professor Miller." I squeaked.

"Not quite, but with your relationship, the narrative will naturally shift to two students caught in emotional drama. That's what we want, a solution. Not your convenience."

"Maybe I'm missing something but all I see is that this arrangement is only shielding Creed Horton. What about me? How does this benefit me?" Biting my cheeks, I let my head fall.

"Right. The university is conducting a deep investigation into your case," My head dips, and heat claws my neck at the mention of that dreadful photo. "And pending its conclusion, everyone involved will be suspended."

"S-suspended?" My voice cracked, "You can't do that. I didn't put myself on that screen." I turned to search Creed's face for any sign of rage, but he was maddeningly unfazed. "How can you be okay with this?" 

"I was pre-informed." He shrugs.

"And you consented?" If Professor Miller was crazy to suggest something this absurd why would he agree to it?

"Trust me, you're the last person I want to date, fake or not. It's a win-win deal Hylara, you get to stay in school while I retain captaincy." Creed sneered, his cool demeanor chipping on the edge.

Wait! Was he to forfeit captaincy?

Not like it was a big deal but I couldn't exactly go home just yet. Not after everything I'd endured to escape that darkness.

"Now that's out of the way, appearance starts immediately, I trust Mr Horton to make a proper announcement later."

"Well then, congratulations." Creed held out a hand.

"What for?"

"For being the hockey captain's first girlfriend."

"This is the worst day of my life," I whispered under my breath.

"Not even close, princess." Creed's eyes darkened into something raw and animalistic, its intensity causing my breath to hitch.

No way he could have heard me.